jlkaad19's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautiful! Powerful!
What a fun and flirty and powerful love story 🥰🥰
Julian and Evie were the perfect albeit, unconventional fit. I love that he helped her realize that while Trevor wasn’t a bad guy at his core he wasn’t right for her anymore. I also love how it was Trevor trying to get her back that made her see the light at the end of the tunnel of grief surrounding Julian’s final truth. ❤️❤️
What a fun and flirty and powerful love story 🥰🥰
Julian and Evie were the perfect albeit, unconventional fit. I love that he helped her realize that while Trevor wasn’t a bad guy at his core he wasn’t right for her anymore. I also love how it was Trevor trying to get her back that made her see the light at the end of the tunnel of grief surrounding Julian’s final truth. ❤️❤️
ladycivic's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! I went into it thinking it would be a fun, flirty book...boy was I wrong. Don’t get me wrong-it was those things, but oh so much more! Evie (Guinevere) and Julian seem to start out easy enough, but Julian has secrets. Man, does he have secrets!! I loved all of the layers of this book. I was laughing, I crying, yelling, and cheering!! I highly recommend this book!!
k_ri2206's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was a fun read. Evie is sassy I love it ! A bit predictable but I enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, Rape, and Suicide
shree_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Dating Games is based on the classic fakers to lovers trope which has been executed perfectly. Evie ,the editor of the Dating and Sex Column of the famous Blush magazine , strongly believed that number 3 or anything associated with that number brought good luck. But her faith was shaken when her third boyfriend dumped her on the day of her thirtieth birthday. Enter Julian Gage. He wanted Evie to be his fake girlfriend just for that summer . Why? Well, because of all the qualities that made her ex boyfriend dump her - handling an awkward situation with humor , sarcastic comebacks , head strong woman with a heart of a child and ofcourse her profession. He promises her that if she poses as his fake girlfriend he would help her to win back her boyfriend with whom she was in relationship for 12 years .
Evie also learns that she is being considered for the "Assistant Editor of the Blush magazine post"by her boss - but in order to get that she needs to provide a piece that would sell thousands of copies of the publication . She chooses August Laurent - the mysterious male escort as the subject o
for her writeup. Not only finding information about August is tough but also she has to pretend as the deeply-in-love girlfriend of the billionaire Julian - a man who oozes charm and sex appeal. Let the games begin!
This book is a hell of a read. While I was busy laughing at Eviee's sarcastic statements , witty comebacks and dope dialogues - the thought of who actually this mystery man kept nagging me and my gut was proven right once again. Want A Spoiler? Nope I am not giving any more of it!
This book deals with aspects of women empowerment,struggles of a writer , dimensions of a woman's life and proves the fact that every woman has the right to feel happy and beautiful - inside out. This novel also deals with the differences between old money and new money and how unwelcomed the new money felt in the glamorous world of Hamptons. The sexual tension between the characters will leave you feeling hot and bothered. The characters were lovable and so adorable. The story was beyond sweet with flavours of drama which made the book more intriguing . THIS BOOK DO CONTAIN MATURE CONTENT - SO READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRIMINATION!
If you are in for a crazy romantic comedy - go try this out!
Evie also learns that she is being considered for the "Assistant Editor of the Blush magazine post"by her boss - but in order to get that she needs to provide a piece that would sell thousands of copies of the publication . She chooses August Laurent - the mysterious male escort as the subject o
for her writeup. Not only finding information about August is tough but also she has to pretend as the deeply-in-love girlfriend of the billionaire Julian - a man who oozes charm and sex appeal. Let the games begin!
This book is a hell of a read. While I was busy laughing at Eviee's sarcastic statements , witty comebacks and dope dialogues - the thought of who actually this mystery man kept nagging me and my gut was proven right once again. Want A Spoiler? Nope I am not giving any more of it!
This book deals with aspects of women empowerment,struggles of a writer , dimensions of a woman's life and proves the fact that every woman has the right to feel happy and beautiful - inside out. This novel also deals with the differences between old money and new money and how unwelcomed the new money felt in the glamorous world of Hamptons. The sexual tension between the characters will leave you feeling hot and bothered. The characters were lovable and so adorable. The story was beyond sweet with flavours of drama which made the book more intriguing . THIS BOOK DO CONTAIN MATURE CONTENT - SO READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRIMINATION!
If you are in for a crazy romantic comedy - go try this out!
justkeyreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
persephoneautumn's review against another edition
5.0
I loved Dating Games 💗
Evie’s sarcasm and whit had me cracking up numerous times. Her heart is big on so many levels, yet she barricades herself from seeing what’s right in front of her.
Julian... oh Julian. I love Julian. Not only can her banter with Evie, but he surprises her in the best ways. He has so many layers and I loved reading each one of them as the came to light.
Dating Games had me laughing and swooning and wanting to slap the characters to say “what are you doing?!” It was amazing and wonderful and a book I enjoyed every moment of.
Evie’s sarcasm and whit had me cracking up numerous times. Her heart is big on so many levels, yet she barricades herself from seeing what’s right in front of her.
Julian... oh Julian. I love Julian. Not only can her banter with Evie, but he surprises her in the best ways. He has so many layers and I loved reading each one of them as the came to light.
Dating Games had me laughing and swooning and wanting to slap the characters to say “what are you doing?!” It was amazing and wonderful and a book I enjoyed every moment of.
00laura23's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
This is a really good read. The main characters Julian and Evie are fascinating and interesting characters. They captured my interest from the start and kept it until the very end. Both the romance and the characters are captivating. Leigh wields a well=written, fascinating story. Many of the side characters are interesting and add to the fabric of the story. This book is well worth the read.
This is a really good read. The main characters Julian and Evie are fascinating and interesting characters. They captured my interest from the start and kept it until the very end. Both the romance and the characters are captivating. Leigh wields a well=written, fascinating story. Many of the side characters are interesting and add to the fabric of the story. This book is well worth the read.
alexabyers's review against another edition
4.0
Julian and Evie - fake dating, forced proximity,
Evie works at a magazine in New York as a sex and relationship writer. Everyone in her family is an English teacher except her. At work she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work her dream job as an assistant publisher but first she needs a damn good story. Her thought is to do an article on the secretive august Lancaster who has never revealed his identify to anyone but his clients.
Saw the twist coming almost immediately from them meeting and having conversations. -⭐️
Evie works at a magazine in New York as a sex and relationship writer. Everyone in her family is an English teacher except her. At work she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to work her dream job as an assistant publisher but first she needs a damn good story. Her thought is to do an article on the secretive august Lancaster who has never revealed his identify to anyone but his clients.
Saw the twist coming almost immediately from them meeting and having conversations. -⭐️
bookaddictreviews's review against another edition
5.0
This is a new to me author and book, I definitely know that I will be reading more in the future. The blurb caught my attention and then when I saw the cover I was I love. I love a fake relationship story and this one is a must read!
I adored Evie and Julian’s story. Evie had me laughing throughout the entire story, along with her two friends Nora and Chloe. Evie will say just about anything to anyone. She is blunt and she is outspoken. Enter her telling an entire bar full of strangers about her break up. Julian is the exact opposite. He is reserved, he is controlled. Somehow these two are perfect together, but when the truth starts coming out will they be able to make it out alive?
As a Nebraska resident, I loved all the random Nebraska mentions. This story was hilarious, but there was also a little bit of heaviness to it that I wasn’t expecting, but it only made me love the characters even more.
If you love a sassy heroine, a sexy hero, a fake relationship romance and a whole lot of laughs this a must read book!
I adored Evie and Julian’s story. Evie had me laughing throughout the entire story, along with her two friends Nora and Chloe. Evie will say just about anything to anyone. She is blunt and she is outspoken. Enter her telling an entire bar full of strangers about her break up. Julian is the exact opposite. He is reserved, he is controlled. Somehow these two are perfect together, but when the truth starts coming out will they be able to make it out alive?
As a Nebraska resident, I loved all the random Nebraska mentions. This story was hilarious, but there was also a little bit of heaviness to it that I wasn’t expecting, but it only made me love the characters even more.
If you love a sassy heroine, a sexy hero, a fake relationship romance and a whole lot of laughs this a must read book!
my_introvert_bookishlife's review against another edition
5.0
Completely Captivating
This is my first TK Leigh book and her writing has completely won me- I was captivated with that awkward non proposal break up to the most romantic proposal any woman could dream off.
Lately I've read duel POV from the main characters but this has really set the tone reading from Evie's POV- that has really worked out so well, although it would have been nice to have an epilogue in Julian's narrative. The pretend boyfriend/ girlfriend set up isn't new but everything about this is so fresh. It was easy to link Julian and August but the reveal worked out well albeit in heartbreaking fashion.
Julian is an absolute dream and the chemistry he and Evie have is so undeniable and electric. It's beyond refreshing to read a beautifully written romance that has such evokes so many emotions- I laughed, cried, fell in love, felt broken hearted, and it's the best feeling ever when love wins in the end!
The writer really captures with greatest sensitivity the domestic abuse cycle, more women (and men) can relate to it than they outright admit; Sonia's relay of her experience is as real to me although she is a fictional character.
This is my first TK Leigh book and her writing has completely won me- I was captivated with that awkward non proposal break up to the most romantic proposal any woman could dream off.
Lately I've read duel POV from the main characters but this has really set the tone reading from Evie's POV- that has really worked out so well, although it would have been nice to have an epilogue in Julian's narrative. The pretend boyfriend/ girlfriend set up isn't new but everything about this is so fresh. It was easy to link Julian and August but the reveal worked out well albeit in heartbreaking fashion.
Julian is an absolute dream and the chemistry he and Evie have is so undeniable and electric. It's beyond refreshing to read a beautifully written romance that has such evokes so many emotions- I laughed, cried, fell in love, felt broken hearted, and it's the best feeling ever when love wins in the end!
The writer really captures with greatest sensitivity the domestic abuse cycle, more women (and men) can relate to it than they outright admit; Sonia's relay of her experience is as real to me although she is a fictional character.